Six hours for police to answer 999 call

POLICE have been accused of bungling the hunt for two burglars after taking six hours to answer

a 999 call and then ignoring the victim's offers of help.

Susan Jones called the emergency hotline after discovering her Tilehurst home had been burgled and says she called police a second time just minutes later after her partner Paul Gale saw the thieves running off.

She made other calls but police did not arrive for more than six hours.

Miss Jones said she was given an officer's name and reference number to contact police if she could help any further, but five calls have gone unanswered.

She said neighbours had suggested names of potential suspects and Mr Gale believed he had found the tool the thieves used to break in nearby.

Furious Miss Jones has written a complaint to Reading police chief Dave Murray.

She said: "I know it is an active time of the year and I know police are under strain, but they turned up six hours late.

"I am totally disheartened by the whole thing.

"Not turning up for six hours when we have seen the burglars and there is a chance to catch them is not acceptable at all.

"How much help can I give the police?"

She added: "I don't think I can rely on the police.

"The sheer fact that the police show no interest in any help from us members of the public leaves me demoralised and bitter towards the people who are supposed to protect us from these disrespectful criminals."

Miss Jones said her second call alerting police was within a few minutes, but police spokeswoman Sian Hickman said records showed it may have been up to half an hour later.

However, Miss Hickman admitted police should have done better to help Miss Jones.

She said police had been very busy on the night of December 30 when she first called and "it was Miss Jones who ended up waiting.

"We do our best to get to all burglaries as soon as we can," Miss Hickman said. "We can only apologise to her for that."

The case had been transferred to the burglary squad but Miss Hickman said she did not know why Miss Jones's messages had not been passed to it.

"I can sympathise with Miss Jones as to why she feels this way," Miss Hickman said.

"It's unfortunate that we do not get it right every time, however we will work incredibly hard to try to recover the situation and would like to reassure her. Burglary is a big priority and we will continue to work with her."